Fruit and vegetable washing device with vertical circulative flow



United States Patent Ofiice 3,3l4,659 Patented Apr. 18, 1967 Continuation 1965. This This is a continuation of application Serial No. 424,5l3, filed January 11, 1965, now abandoned. The present invention relates to a washing device for fruits and vegetables and other solid food units. The device provides for imparting to contained liquid a two dimensional circulative flow in a vertical plane. Provision is included for the circulative liquid flow to receive suflicient kinetic energy from tangential inlet liquid flow to etfect continuous vertical circulative motion of the fruits or vegetables.

Objects of the invention are to provide for the thorough cleaning of all surface areas of fruits and vegetables in minimum time and without bruises or damage.

Other Objects are to provide a simple cleaning device having no moving n-echanical parts, and which can be used Conveniently in household kitchen sinks, and which can utilize kinetic energy available from conventional household faucet water.

Another object is to prevent the loss overboard of circulating food units during copious overflow of exhaust liquid.

Another object is to provide an ample number of narrow exhaust ports to block egress of small berries and to establish low liquid escape velocities at the exhaust port inlets such that the liquid pressure at the exhaust port inlets is insuicient to grip the berries to the ports and block liquid escape.

Another object is to minimize back pressure from the overflow ports to provide maximum liquid flow eciency.

Another object is to provide a high rate of dilution of impurities by a high exhaust overflow rate.

An object is to provide a horizontal cover having a turning vane located in the face of upward vertical flow and backed on the upper side thereof by a head of stagnant liquid when in normal operation thereby providing a liquid seal at the turn even though the clearance between mating parts may be large.

Another object is to provide two dimensional liquid ex haust flow thereby reducing liquid cross flow and eddies within the container and conserving kinetic energy and improvng performance.

An object is to provide improved mixing of the inlet jet and the contained circulating liquid to provide more stable two dimensional flow within the washng device to conserve energy for useful work.

Another object is to provide for augmentation of the inlet jet by the contained circulating liquid to increase the eflective jet mass at reduced net velocty thereby preserving momentum and reducing kinetic energy losses and improving eficiency.

A number of other Objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

One form of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the views.

FIGURE 1 is a side View of the fruit and Vegetable washing device properly positioned beneath an open water faucet. The arrows indicate the flow path of the circulative liquid flow.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of FIGURE 1 showing the comparativelynarrow width, W of the washing device,

and details of the cover or closure member.

FIGURE 3 is a section along line 3--3 of FIGURE 1 showing, to a larger scale, the typical cross-section of a food unit defiector and liquid guide vane.

The prior art has provided a narrow two dimensional washing device of the present type, as for example that described in copending application of Serial No. 246,- 715 filed Dec. 24, 1962, now Patent No. 3,208,732. That configuration includes a cover specific means for liquid exhaust flow. The cover element thereof is effective and functions to provide important advantages as described therein. A principal purpose of the present invention is to contribute materially to the preservation of and even to the generation of contained flow which is two dimensional, and hence of ncreased efiicicncy. This allows operation of the device at lower available water pressures, or for the cleaning of larger loads of food units at a given water pressure.

Referring to the several figures, washing device l is comprised of side walls 2 and 3 extending longitudinally and vertically and spaced apart in relative proximity. A lateral wall 4 extends between side walls 2 and 3 to provide a bottom wall 5 and two opposite end walls 6 and 7. The bottom wall 5 and end wall 6 are faired together by radius R to provide a curved inner surface, as shown.

The liquid inlet unit 8 is comprised of a vertically extending duct portion 9, an upper inlet port 10 open upwardly to the atmosphere, and lower exit port 11 which is submerged below normal liquid Operating level. Exit port 11 is of elongated cross-section, wherein the major axis is perpendicular to the plane of end wall 6. Inlet port 10 is circular and oversize, and duct portion 9 tapers downwardly to elongated exit port 11. Inlet unit 8 is fastened to end wall 6 by clip 12. The washing device, in service, is postioned under open faucet 13, as shown in FIGURE 1 so that free water jet 14 is in line with inlet port 10. This establshes vetical circulative flow within the device as indicated by the arrows in FIG- URE 1. V

Side walls 2 and 3 are in the state of being mutually near. This side wall proximity endows the Washing device with a width less than the length or height or each. The device has been found to be operable using conventional househ'old faucets and a reasonable container volume when width W, as shown in FIGURE 2, is about one half or less of the largest length or height of the container cavity. As the width of the device decreases with respect to the length or height, the efliciency and load capacity increase. For optimum, practical operation, the ratio of Width to maximum length or height of the container portion is about one third or less. When the width of the device becomes relatively large with respect to the length or height the circulative two dimensional flow pattern is not obtained, but localized random liquid agitation occurs at the region of faucet water entry element which provides liquid flow whereby kinetic energy is more fully conserved in order to do the useful work of forcing the contained food units to revolve with the contained liquid. Thus, the present device will function to wash a larger load of food units at one time. Also, the present device will function more eflectively at those times of the day when the available water pressure is low, and in second floor apartments, etc., where the available water pressure may be relatively low.

The increase in performance ability of washing device 1 is due to the character of lid or closure portion 15-. Closure portion 15 is in three cooperating portions, which may be used separately or in combination. Center closure portion 16 is bonded along line 17 to liquid deflector portion 18, and along line 19 to food unit deflector portion 20. Liquid deflector portion 18, center closure portion 16, and food unit deflector portion 20` function simultaneously to contribute to the preservation of the two dimensional liquid flow within the container. Their combined results are more than the sum of their separate results, since lateral flow deviations are continuously suppressed by each of the three portions. The omission of any portion would command a greater restoring effort from the remaining portions which would therefore be less eflicient due to stronger liquid cross flows and eddies.

Liquid exhaust occurs through the plurality of narrow, elongated slots 21 in center closure portion 16'. The flow is up through slots 21 in a plurality of thin parallel streams. Exhaust liquid forms in a thin sheet on the upper surface of center closure portion 16 and flows outwardly to the two edges, and from there runs overboard to the floor of the snk. Thus, exhaust flow from the container is two dimensional and does not induce cross currents within the container. This aids in preserving two dimensional flow within the container. These details are essentially in accordance with those of referenced Patent No. 3,208,732.

Liquid deflector portion 18 is of curved, solid form to deflect both the food units and liquid. Clearances a and b, in FIGURE 2, exist between the closure portion and the walls of device 1. To prevent the flow of liquid through the gaps of clearances a and b, side walls 2 and 3 and end wall 7 are extended locally to upper edges 21A which are of higher elevation than upper edges 22 at the center portion of side walls 2 and 3 to provide three sides of an elevated reservoir. Liquid deflector portions 18 includes an integral transverse rib 23 which extends through notches 24 and 25 in side walls 2 and 3 and provides the fourth side of the reservoir. The rib 23 provides a secondary seal and also holds deflector portion 18 in position when the bond at line 17 is omitted. In actual operation, as determined by tests, Volume A of the eleva-ted reservoir fills with liquid almost to the elevation of upper edge 21A. With normal water pressure and average assembly tolerances the water level of volu-me A may -be of an inch greater than that of other liquid in the containeror in the cover slots 21. However, the liquid in Volume A stagnates and there is no noticeable flow 'between clearances a and b in normal operation. Thus, a static water reservoir and an efficient water seal is provided even with large manufacturing tolerances and clearances on parts. Liquid deflector portion 18 and the static water reservoir function to turn all liquid without leakage. This assures symmetrical flow at the critical turn region and reduces cross flows and eddies and results in important conservaton of kinetic energy.

Food unit deflector portion 20` is comprised of a plurality of deflector vanes 26 cantilevered from support 27. Tabs 28 and 29 extend downwardly from support 27 to externally grip side walls 2. and 3 by a friction fit. Optionally, deflector portion 20 may not be bonded to center closure portion 16 along line 19, in which case tabs 28 and 29 may be bonded to walls 2 and 3 to provide fixed support for deflector vanes 26.

Deflector vanes 26 are spaced parallel, and a cross-section of one vane is shown typically in FIGURE 3 to enlarged scale. contained liquid flow is through the compartment of Volume B, where inlet unit 8 is located. Two dimensional liquid flow is stabilized locally by vanes 26. This provides for a more efiicient union of the flow of the contained liquid and the flow of the inlet jet from inlet unit 8. A more eflicient mixing of flows occurs with less turbulence and eddies, and with greater conservaton of kinetic energy. Upper edges 30 of the walls 2, 3, and 6 above vanes 26 are at a higher elevation than the upper surface of center closure portion 16 to prevent the exhaust of contained liquid from Volume B above vanes 26.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been ilustrated it is to be understood that what is defined by Letters Patent is specified by the appended clairns.

What is claimed is:

1. A washing device including two side walls extending longitudinally and vertically and spaced apart, a lateral wall extending between said side walls to provide a bottom wall and two opposite end walls and connecting with said side walls in unitary relation to provide a container, and the inner surface of said bottom wall and the inner surfaces of said end walls substantially faired to provide substantially curved inner surfaces at the regions of juncture, and said walls terminating upwardly to substantially provide an upper opening for overflow liquid and said container adapted for vertical circulative flow, and said end wall at the normal upflow end of said container and adjacent segments of said side walls extending to a higher elevation locally than said upper opening for overflow liquid, and a transverse substantially vertical walllike portion extending between said higher side wall segments and spaced from said end wall normally to provide a vertical enclosure to contain a liquid column in normal operation at a higher level than said upper opening for overflow liquid.

2. A washing device including two side walls extending longitudinally and vertically and spaced apart, a later-al wall extending between said side walls to provide a bottom wall and two opposite end walls and connecting with said side walls in u-nitary relation to provide a container, and the inner surface of said bottom wall and the inner surfaces of said end walls substantially faired to provide substantially curved inner surfaces at the regions of juncture, and said side walls terminating upwardly to substantially provide an upper opening for overflow liquid, and said container adapted normally for downflow at one end and for upflow at the opposite end, and a liquid guide vane like portion normally positioned at the upflow end of said container, and the end and side walls of said device locally at said guide vane like portion extending to a higher elevation than said upper opening for overflow liquid, and an upwardly eX- tending wall-like transverse portion of higher elevation than said upper opening for overflow liquid and extending between said side wall portions of higher elevation and spaced from said end wall of higher elevation and which cooperates with said end and side wall portions of higher elevation to provide a vertical enclosure to contain a liquid column at a higher level in normal operation than said upper opening for overflow liquid, and means for supporting said guide vane like transverse portion and said wall-like portion with respect to said washing device.

3. A washing device as in claim 2, and said guide vane like portion inclined with respect to horizontal to provide a turning efect on contained liquid in normal operation.

4. A washing device as in claim 2, and a closure portion to substantially overlie said upper opening for overflow liquid, and liquid overflow means in said closure portion.

5. A washing device as in claim 2, and a closure portion to substantially overlie said upper opening for overflow liqud, said closure portion including a plurality of elongated narrow apertures for liquid exhaust flow, and said elorgated apertures extending longitudnally in directions substantially arallel to the planes of said side walls.

6. A Washing device asin claim 2, and a wash unit defiector normally positoned at the normal downflow end of said container, and said deflector including a plurality of small apertures for liquid flow, and means for supporting said deflector with respect to said Washing device.

7. A Washing device as in claim 2, and a lquid inlet unit normally positioned at the normal downow end of said container, said inlet unit including an upper inlet port, a substantially vertically etxending duct portion, and

supporting said inlet unit With respect to said washing device.

References Cted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,207,483 9/1965 Ranson 134-198 XR 3,208,732 9/1965 Ranson 134-183 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 650330 9/ 1937 Germany.

614,376 12/1960 Italy.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, P'imary Exam'ner.

a normally su bmerged exit port portion, and means for 15 R. BLEUTGE, Assistant Examz'ner. 

1. A WASHING DEVICE INCLUDING TWO SIDE WALLS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY AND VERTICALLY AND SPACED APART, A LATERAL WALL EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS TO PROVIDE A BOTTOM WALL AND TWO OPPOSITE END WALLS AND CONNECTING WITH SAID SIDE WALLS IN UNITARY RELATION TO PROVIDE A CONTAINER, AND THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID BOTTOM WALL AND THE INNER SURFACES OF SAID END WALLS SUBSTANTIALLY FAIRD TO PROVIDE SUBSTANTIALLY CURVED INNER SURFACES AT THE REGIONS OF JUNCTURE, AND SAID WALLS TERMINATING UPWARDLY TO SUBSTANTIALLY PROVIDE AN UPPER OPENING FOR OVERFLOW LIQUID AND SAID CONTAINER ADAPTED FOR VERTICAL CIRCULATIVE FLOW, AND SAID END WALL AT THE NORMAL UPFLOW END OF SAID CONTAINER AND ADJACENT SEGMENTS OF SAID SIDE WALLS EXTENDING TO A HIGHER ELEVATION LOCALLY THAN SAID UPPER OPENING FOR OVERFLOW LIQUID, AND A TRASVERSE SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL WALLLIKE PORTION EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID HIGHER SIDE WALL SEGMENTS AND SPACED FROM SAID END WALL NORMALLY TO PROVIDE A VERTICAL ENCLOSURE TO CONTAIN A LIQUID COLUMN IN NORMAL OPERATION AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN SAID UPPER OPENING FOR OVERFLOW LIQUID. 